Critical Essay by Michael Cotsell

In the following essay, Cotsell investigates the impact of Carlyle's travels upon his writing and concludes that Carlyle's "sense of the world, as it reveals itself in his travel and other writings, " is larger than the "single vision of imperial rule " which he applauds and advocates in much of his writing.

It is indeed an "extensive Volume", of boundless, almost formless contents, a very Sea of Thought; neither calm nor clear, if you will; yet wherein the toughest pearl-diver may dive to his utmost depth, and return not only with sea-wreck but with true orients. (Sartor Resartus 10; bk. 1, ch. 2)